Starter for internal-combustion engines



June 23, 1925.

, A. NUTT STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Spt. 21, 1922 a Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG .4.

/ I INVENTOR.

June 23, 1925. 1,543,479

A. NUTT STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Sept. 21, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ARTHUR NUTT.

June 23, 1925.- 1,543,479

A. NUTT STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Sept. 21, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG .4. Q 37 INVENTOR. ARTHUR NUTT.

Patented June 23, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcE.

ARTHUR NUTT, OF GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CURTISS AEROPLANE & MOTOR COMPANY, INC. OF GARDEN CITY, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STARTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed September21j1922. Serial No. 589,585.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR NUTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Garden City, in the county of Nassau, Long Island,

and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in.

Starters for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to starters for power plants and more particularly to hand starters for internal combustion motors. A characteristic of the invention is the provision of a shiftable or adjustable starter crank (operable regardless of its position of adjustment) so related to the crankshaft of the motor as to initially effect its rotation in a starting operation. In one position of adjustment the starter crank occupies the conventional position, i. e., its axis of rotation is either parallel with or in continuation of the axis of rotation of the crankshaft, Whereas in a different position of adjustment its axis of rotation is at right angles to the axis of rotation of the crankshaft. A starter thus characterized is particularly adapted to the aeroplane motor,

wherein the motor in its entirety is of neccs-- sity oft-times mounted in an elevated and ordinarily inaccessible position.

:20 A further characteristic of the invention is the provision of a two-part starter casing, one of which parts is fixed and the other of which is movable; said movable part being that part of the starter casing into which the starter crank extends. Preferably the movement accorded the adjustable part is such that the angular position of the starter crank may be varied in its relation to the fixed casing part to extend off therefrom at right angles to the axis of rotation of the crankshaft in different angular positions.

Such adjustment is in addition to the adjustment referred to hereinbefore. By the provision of such lateral adjustment, the

starter crank may be extended off from the starter casing at almost any desired angle, thereby making it possible to assemble the starter and connect the starter crank in that position nearest the position most desirable.

the incorporation of a kick-back device in A still further characteristic of the invention is the disposition of the three power transmission gears symmetrically about the axis of the starter shaft to thereby equally distribute the driving torque and at the same time admit of the utilization of the bolts provided for fastening the starter casmg to the motor crankcase as shafts upon which the several gears are mounted.

A still further object of the invention is the starter mechanism, said device being so organized and constructed in its relation to the starter per se that a shift in the position of the starter crank has no effect whatsoever upon its operativeness. Preferably the kick-back device embodies related dogs of a construction such that clockwise rotation of the starter crankeifeets the desired rotation of the starter shaft, whereas a reverse rotation of the starter shaft will immediately break the connection between it and the starter crank.

Other objects, advantages, and improved results will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Of the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the combination hand starter, hand magneto, and kick-back device. In this figure the starter crank is shown in that position of adjustment wherein its axis of rotation is either parallel with or in continuation of the axis of rotation of the crankshaft of the motor.

Figure-2 is a face view of the combination device illustrated in Figure 1, showmg the starter crank mounted in that position of adjustment wherein its-axis of rotation is at right angles to the axis of rotation of the crankshaft. The broken lines of this figure indicate the various positions of ad justment which the starter crank may assume in practice.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, several times enlarged, with a portion of the starter casing removed to illustrate the driving connection between the starter and the starting magneto.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of ing the relation of the fastening bolts for the starter to the fixed and adjustable casing parts.

As hereinbefore explained, a hand starter of the type set forth is especially suited to the aeroplane motor, although useful of course 1n connection with marine motors and power plants generally.

In its preferred embodiment the starter comprises a fixed casing part 10 and an ad- 'ustable casing part 11, the latter "being olted or fastened to the fixed casing part as indicated at 12. The fixed easing part preferably comprises separable casing sections bolted face to face as at 13 and held against the crankcase (not shown) of the motor in connection with which the starter is used, by thru-bolts l4 symmetrically arranged about the-axis of the starter shaft as illustrated in Fi re 3. The movable casing art 11 is ad ustable in its relation to the xed'casing part 10, such adjustment beingof a rotary nature and obtainable by the removal of the bolts 12. A, B, C, D, E, G, H, I, J, and K (Figure 2) indicate the positions of adjustment accorded the movable casing part, such adjustment being uickly obtained by removing the bolts 12, s ifting the casing part 11, and replacing as before in its newly adjusted position.

In one face of the adjustable casing part 11 I provide an opening 15, and in the end of said casing part I provide a second opening16, the openings in each instance being the same in size, though formed in the easing at right angles to each other. The starter crank or crank handle, designated in its entirety as 17 is adapted to enter into the adjustable casing part through one or the other of the said openings 15 and 16, a cover plate 18 bolted 1n place as at 19 being rovided to close that opening unoccupied y the starter crank. Upon the end of the starter crank, and within the adjustable casing part 11 I provide a bevel gear 20 and a pinion 21. In one position of adjustment of the starter crank, i.'e., the position illustrated in Figure 4, the teeth of. the bevel gear 20 are in mesh with the teeth of a bevel pinion 22 formed on the end of the starter shaft 23, said starter shaft being journalled in suitable bearings formed in the starter casing. In a starting operation the starter shaft is rotated by a rotation of the starter crank. In the position of adjustment of the starter crank illustrated in Figure 1 the bevel gear 20 rides idle in the starter casing, as does'the bevel pinion formed on the end of the starter shaft. In the latter position of adjustment the pinion 21 provides the necessary driving connection between the starter crank and the starter shaft. To

this end aninternal gear 24 is provided at one end of the startershaft. Moreover, in the last mentioned position of adjustment the starter crank enters the opening 16 in the adjustable casing section, the cover plate 18 being-first removed and fitted in place as a cover plate for the opening 15.

Intermediately' of its ends the starter shaft 23 is provided with a pinion 25 which is adapted to mesh with three gears 26 of several times greater diameter. The gears 26 are symmetrically arranged about the starter shaft axis, each of said gears having its axis of rotation disposed at. the apex of an equilateral triangle, the center of which is defined by the starter shaft axis. The

three gears 26, the pinion 25, and the bushings 27 which carry the gears 26 are all enclosed in the fixed casing part 10. Each bushing 27 is hollow throughout and ex- -tends substantially the full distance between the opposite faces of the fixed casing part.

The hub of each of the several gears 26 is enlarged to provide driving pinions 28 which in turn mesh with a gear 29 forming a part of what is known in the art as a Bendix drive, i. e., a patented mechanical movement commonly used with both hand and mechanical starters to make and break the driving connection between the starter and the power shaft.

One of the gears 26 is in mesh with a driving pinion 30 mounted on a shaft 31 journalled in suitable bearings formed in an extension of the starter casing designated as 32. Said pinion 30 drives a worm gear 33 which in turn drives a worm 34 mounted on a magneto shaft 35; the latter having a driving connection 36 with a conventional type of starting magneto 37 supported on a bracket 38 integral with the fixed part 10 1 the sl'eex e 39, which is fixed in its relationto the casing. part 11, a movable sleeve 40 is provided. Said sleeve 40 is inwardly flanged at its inner ends to bear against the outer wall of the sleeve 39 and is adapted to slide back and forth longitudinally in a starting operation. Said sliding sleet e is provided with two sets of teeth 41 and 42, the inner set of teeth 41 being adapted to mesh with similarly formed teeth 43 rigid with the sleeve 39 and the outer set are adapted'to mesh with teeth 44 rigid with a sleeve -15, pinned as at 46 to the starter crank or crank handle 17. There is also provided an inner set of teeth 47 on the sleeve 46 which are adapted to mesh with similarly formed teeth 48 formed in the outer end of that portion of the starter.

outer dog engage with the teeth 42 of the sliding sleeve 40 and when the crank handle 17 is rotated in a clock-wise direction, turn the sliding sleeve during such rotation. The teeth 41 and 43 (see Fig. 3) being oppositely beveled, when the crank handle 17-- is thus rotated, ride freely over one another and thereby admit of the desired rotation of the starter crank. The teeth 47 and 48 comprising the inner dog, during such clockwise rotation of the starter crank, instead of riding one over the other, firmly engage, such engagement causing the extension of the gear to rotate with the starter crank to thereby correspondingly rotate the starter shaft. Should the motor backfire, the connection between the gear 20 and the starter crank is immediately broken. This break in the driving connection between the parts mentioned is brought about through the driving engagement between the teeth 41 and 43, and since the teeth43 are held in fixed relation to the starter casing. obviously the sleeve is likewise held, and since the teeth of the outer dog are beveled oppositely to the teeth 41 and 43, the driving connection is immediately broken.

It will be noted from the above that the kick-back device is wholly incorporated as a part of the starter crank and that the adjustment accorded the starter crank will have no ef ect whatsoever upon the operativeness thereof. To insure a positive engagement between the teeth 41 and 43 at all times, a spring 49 is so incorporated in the structure of the kick-back device as to urge the sliding sleeve 40 at all times inwardly or toward the fixed teeth 43.

' In effecting adjustment of the starter crank from the position indicated in Figure 4 to the position indicated in Figure 1, the cap 18 is ren'ioved, as is also the fixed sleeve 3.). The starter crank is then withdrawn through the opening 15 in the adjustable casing part. the cap 18 placed over said opening, and the starter crank inserted through the opening 16 instead. lVhen thus inserted. the teeth of the gear 20 instead of meshing with the teeth of the gear 22 will ride idle within the adjustable casing, part and the. driving connection between the starter crank and the starter shaft will be effected by the engagement of the teeth of thegear 21 with the teeth of the internal gear 24 formed on the starter shaft.

Angular adjustment of the starter crank is effected, not by a removal of the starter crank from its position within the adjustable casing part, but by adjustment of the movable casing part itself. By moving the bolts 12 and rotatably shifting the adjustable casing part, any of the angular positions indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2 may be assumedby the starter crank.

Vhile I have described my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art after understanding my invention, that Various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes.

What I claim is i 1. A hand starter for internal combustion engines comprising a starter crank bodily shiftable in its relation to said engine and operable in either of its two or more positions of adjustment to rotate the engine crankshaft during a starting operation.

2. A hand starter for internal combustion engines comprising a starter crank shiftable into various positions of angular adjustment relativelyto the axis of the engine crankshaft, said starter crank in either of its several positions of adjustment being operable to rotate the engine crankshaft in a starting operation.

3. A hand starter for internal combustion engines comprising a starter crank shiftable in its relation to said engine from a position 1n axial alignment with the engine crankshaft to a position at right angles to said axis or vise versa, said starter crank in either position of adjustment being operable to rotate the engine crankshaft in a starting operatlon.

4. A hand starter for internal combustion engines comprising a starter crank shiftable into various positions of angular adjustment relatively to the axis of the engine crankshaft, mechanism operable upon rotating the starter crank to engage and rotate said crankshaft, and an element carried by the starter crank and movable into'and out of driving engagement with said mechanism when efl'ecting adjustment of said starter crank in its angular relation to said crankshaft axis.

5. A hand starter for internal combustion engines comprising a starter crank shiftable in its relation to said engine from a position in axial alignment with the engine crankshaft to a position at right angles to said axis or vise versa, mechanism operable up'on rotating the starter crank to engage and rotate said crankshaft. and separate devices carried by the starter crank, one of said devices bcing so related to said mechanism as to engage therewith in one position of adjustment and the other of said devices being ing enclosed in one of the casing parts and extended into the other, the casing part within which the gearing is enclosed being fixed relatively to the engine, a starter crank extended into the other of the said casing parts, said starter crank being adjustable in its relation to the axis of the crankshaft of the engine by movement of said last mentioned casing part relatively to the other, and a gear mounted on said starter crank, said gear being in mesh with the gear projected into the casing part which is adjustable.

8. A hand starter for internal combustion engines comprising a two-part casing, one of the casing parts of which is adjustable relatively to the other, mechanism enclosed in one of said casing parts and projected into the other of said casing parts, a starter crank movable with the adjustable casing part to vary its angular relation to the axis of the crankshaft of the engine, and a gear mounted on said starter crank within the adjustable casing part, saidgear being in 'mesh with a gear forming a part of the enclosed mechanism.

9. A hand starter for internal combustion engines comprising a two-part casing, one of the casing parts of which is fixed relatively to the engine and the other of which is adjustable relatively to the fixed casing part, starter mechanism enclosed within said casing, and a starter crank carried by the adjustable casing part and movable with it during adjustment, that the angular relation of the starter crank to the axis of the crankshaft may be varied.

10. A hand starter for internal combustion engines comprising a starter casing, said casing being divided to provide a fixed casing part and a part adjustable relatively to said fixed casing part, mechanism enclosed in the fixed caslng part and extended into the adjustable casing part, said mechanism being movable in a starting operation into engagement with the crankshaft of the engine, a starter crank carried by the adjustable casing part, the relation of the starter crank to the adjustable casing part being such that the latter when ad usted varies the angular relation of the starter crank to the crankshaft axis, and a gear mounted on the starter crank for operating said mechanism by a rotation of the starter crank relatively to the casing.

-l1. In a hand starter for internal combustion engines, the combination with a kick-back device, of a starter shaft, a starter crank operable to rotate the starter shaft, said starter crank and said kick-back device being assembled as a unit, a casing within which the starter shaft is enclosed, said casing comprising separate casing parts, one of which is fixed and the other of which is adjustable, and means for effecting a variation in the angular relation of the starter crank to the axis of the starter shaft by varying the position of the adjustable casingpart relatively to the casing part which is fixed.

12. A hand starter for internal combustion engines comprising a starter casing having openings therein at right angles, a starter shaft enclosed within said casing, a starter crank shiftable in its relation to said casing, the starter crank in one position of adjustment being adapted to enter one of said openings and in a different posi tion of adjustment being adapted to enter the other of .said openings, and a driving connection between the starter crank and the starter shaft.

13. In a hand starter for internal combustion engines, the combination with a kick-back device, of a starter casing having openings formed therein at right angles to each other, a starter shaft enclosed within said casing, and a starter crank having a driving connection with the starter shaft, said starter crank and the kick-back device being shiftable as a unit, the starter crank in one position of adjustment being adapted to enter one of said openings and in a different position of adjustment being adapted to enter the other of said openings, whereby the axis of the starter crank may be disposed at right angles to the axis of the starter shaft on the one hand and in continuation of the axis of the starter shaft on the other.

14. In a hand starter for internal C0111- bustion engines, a two-part casing, aistart-or shaft enclosed in one of the casing parts and extended into the other, the casing part within which the starter shaft is enclosed being fixed and the casing part into which it is extended being adjustable, said adjustable 'casing part being provided with openings formed therein at right angles one to the other, a starter crank shiftable in its relation to the adjustable casing part, said starter crank in one position of adj ustment being adapted to enter said adjustable casing 'part through one of said openings and in a different position of adjustment .being adapted to enter said casing part through the other of said openings, meansfor efi'ecting a driving connection between the starter crank and the starter shaft regardless of the position of adjustment of the I starter crank, and a kick-back'device shiftable With the starter crank, the starter crank and kick-back device being assembled as a unit to prevent a reverse rotation of the starter crank-due to back-firing regardless of its position of adjustment.

15. A hand starter for internal combustion engines comprising a freely movable.

starter crank bodily shiftable in its relation to said engine and operable in either of its two or more positions of adjustment to'rotate the engine crank shaft during a starting operation, in combination with a kick "back device carried by and bodily shiftable with the starter crank and operable in' any position of starter crank adjustment to prevent a reverse rotation of the starter crank due to engine back fire.

16. A hand starter for internal combustion engines comprising a starter crank 'shiftable into various positions of angular adjustment relatively to the axis of the engine crankshaft, said starter crank in either of its several positions of adjustment being operable to rotatethe engine crank shaft in a starting operation, in combination with a signature. 7 ARTHUR NUTT. 

